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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-08-2014 11:12 PM

Beebz03

Now that I've really paid attention to her the past 24 hours she seems only do it when I"m moving or have recently moved she's never staring at shadows while I"m on the sofa watching tv. Stares at them curiously but rarely pounces. Has zero interest in shadows outside, too busy experiencing everything else. Hopefully I can fix this I am going to make a topic in a appropriate forum section on this site asking about great dog toys, she finally destroyed her last toys so I need to replenish her supply again

07-08-2014 01:44 AM

viking

Guess I should have been clearer, I have not and will not use a laser pointer w Hans. I make a specific shadow w my hand he is allowed to pounce on at the beach and only at the beach and only for a portion of the time. At least this way his habit is not all the time all consuming and as I said, this summer he's been leaving it behind on his own.

My boy is a rescue who came to me with this light/shadow thing. I tried training him out of it too but wasn't successful. I settled for making it a controlled game, at certain times, in certain places and nowhere else. This has worked. We play shadow pounce at the dog beach every day (when its sunny) for awhile and then its time to play w other dogs. Never while on leash, ever, period. Its comfortable now. He loves it and gets to do it during his free/play time, for a awhile but not the whole time. So far this summer, he's been getting bored with it on his own after a bit and gone off w the other digs on his own instead of on my command.

After reading everything I could find about it and getting all worried I just came to a point where I realized there's gotta be a better way than getting freaked out that my dog was going to be deranged/seizing and I tried to work with it rather than eradicate the behavior. Hope this helps.

07-07-2014 08:15 PM

Beebz03

Declan I read that article, my dog doesn't seem to have any of those other OCD behaviors so maybe I can turn this thing around

07-07-2014 08:10 PM

Courtney

Beebz03, I'm glad you posted & hopefully have the opportunity to turn this behavior around.

In general, I don't get the appeal of owners playing laser light games with dogs. It's a mindless game with absolutely no reward, the dog never wins.

07-07-2014 08:07 PM

Beebz03

Umm she doesn't ever zone out she locks on to shadows at times, very alert in general excellent guard dog, no real weird licking habits I can think of at least not constant ones. She is pretty well behaved in the house to be honest with you, runs around a bit sometimes but she never destroys anything.

07-07-2014 08:03 PM

Declan

Sounds like possible OCD. Some dogs become so severe that they will self-harm or get themselves so stressed out that they need medication, but I'm not sure she's at that point yet. It could get worse. Working her mind will help, but don't use the laser again. Does she lick obsessively and seem to zone out? Snap at imaginary flies? Any other odd habits? Here's an article that covers some of what you need to watch out for:

one thing helping me is the two indoor cats I have as well, every day I"m at work for 8 hours all 3 pets have the run of the house so she is focused on them a lot too otherwise I hate to think it but maybe she would chase shadows all day.

07-07-2014 07:27 PM

Castlemaid

Quote:

Originally Posted by misslesleedavis1

Castlemaid-may I copy n paste that onto my fb? I know some pro lazer folks that will argu up n down its the healthiest way to drain energy.

Oh my, yes! Go ahead. One problem is that SOME dogs are not affected at all and never develop light and shadow chasing behaviour, and makes people think that all these warnings are unfounded paranoia.

And then some dogs get ONE session of playing with a lazer, and they are never the same again, spending all their time looking for a moving light and pouncing on nothing - sad.

I just don't think it's worth the risk to even try it once. Get a flirt pole or tie a line to a toy and have your dog chase that. Same great way to burn off energy, but no OCD that may prove dangerous to the dog's well being.

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